as in scams
an instance of the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value
the explanation was so plausible that I never suspected it was all a con to make off with my car
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in studies
to commit to memory
usually candidates con their entire campaign speech, right down to the jokes they supposedly ad-lib
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in reviews
to look over closely (as for judging quality or condition)
seemed to be conning his face for any sign of uncertainty
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in hustles
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
a fly-by-night operator who had conned hundreds of would-be homeowners out of their hard-earned money
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in tricks
to cause to believe what is untrue
tried to con me into thinking that he had actually won the lottery
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cons
Matthew Razak, Space.com, 13 Apr. 2026
Drivers also told us the company would shortchange them by altering delivery contracts- or rate cons - which confirm how much a broker has agreed to pay to move freight - a percentage of that goes to the driver.
—Ashley Velie, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2026
Ahead of CinemaCon, IndieWire assessed the pros and cons of six major talking points sure to be themes on the Caesar’s Palace Colosseum stage.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 11 Apr. 2026
Even when researchers reworded prompts or asked for pros-and-cons analysis, the AI models, in many cases, demonstrated a strong preference toward a similar business strategy.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2026
The other weighs the pros and cons of pursuing a technical or managerial career path.
—IEEE Spectrum, 9 Apr. 2026
The cons The Micro Hydro doesn’t come without a few cons, though.
—Meaghan Kenny, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Apr. 2026
But in 2026, the sunscreen market looks very different, with an influx of new brands, formulas, and formats that limit most of the cons which limit consumers from actually wearing it daily.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 8 Apr. 2026
In the weeks leading up to National College Decision Day on May 1, students will weigh the pros and cons of each school.
—Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 7 Apr. 2026
Noun
And perhaps most importantly, the internet wasn’t around for every aspect to be picked apart, and discussions of ever-expanding lore sat in friend groups, cons, or limited forums.
—Matthew Razak, Space.com, 13 Apr. 2026
Drivers also told us the company would shortchange them by altering delivery contracts- or rate cons - which confirm how much a broker has agreed to pay to move freight - a percentage of that goes to the driver.
—Ashley Velie, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2026
Ahead of CinemaCon, IndieWire assessed the pros and cons of six major talking points sure to be themes on the Caesar’s Palace Colosseum stage.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 11 Apr. 2026
Even when researchers reworded prompts or asked for pros-and-cons analysis, the AI models, in many cases, demonstrated a strong preference toward a similar business strategy.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2026
The other weighs the pros and cons of pursuing a technical or managerial career path.
—IEEE Spectrum, 9 Apr. 2026
The cons The Micro Hydro doesn’t come without a few cons, though.
—Meaghan Kenny, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Apr. 2026
But in 2026, the sunscreen market looks very different, with an influx of new brands, formulas, and formats that limit most of the cons which limit consumers from actually wearing it daily.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 8 Apr. 2026
In the weeks leading up to National College Decision Day on May 1, students will weigh the pros and cons of each school.
—Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cons. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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